Beehive-entrance snow guard



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,640

O. SMiTH BEEHIVE ENTRANCE SNOW GUARD Filed April 11, 1927 Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

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App ic t filed Ap 1 ,91 1 senat 182. 53

During the hibernating period of beesfl t is essential that thehives receive a supply of air to prevent suffocation of the bees, hence it iS in umbent upon the aplarlst to maln- 5 tain an unobstructed passage for the air and prevent the usual inlet-from being closed by snow and sleet.

In accordance with the present invention the usual inlet of a bee hive is reduced bya filler block and a guard is'associated with the filler block and retained in place thereby to maintain an opening for the supply of air to the interior of the hive at all times and under all conditions, said guard being hollow upon its lower side and arranged with the hollow side facing downwardly and presented to the alightingboard of the hive,

in a manner to preserve an air passage, which may also be utilized as means of ingress and egress for the bees during warm periods.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention. as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof. p

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a bee hive provided with a guard embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a detailv sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail the guard inverted.

Figure t is a detail the filler block.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The bee hive 1 ma be of any approved construction and its hottom is extended to provide the usual alighting board 3. The bees are afforded ingress and egress through an opening 4 which is provided between the alighting board 3 and the bottom edge of the adjacent side or wall of the hive.

In accordance with the invention a filler block 5 is provided for closing the opening perspective view of perspective view of 4 duringthe winter months, and this block has a portion cut from its lower side, as indicated at 6 to provide a restricted opening.

The guard proper consists of a body .7 which hollow upon. ts lower side formlnga space osed upon three sides and .open

which is c upoirthe fourth side. In the preferable construction the guard is formed of sheet metal, three sides of which are flanged, as indicated at 8 and 9, the flanges 8 being dis osed at opposite longitudinal edges and the ange 9 at one end. This results in the enclosed space being opened at the end opposite the flange 9. The width of the guard is less than the length of the restricted opening 6 formed by the cut away portion of the filler block 5, thereby forming a space at each side of the guard when the latter is properly pos'tioned, as indicated most clearly in Figure 1, and these openings at the sides of the guard provide for ingress and egress of the bees during warm periods in the winter season. The length of the guard is such that it projects within the hive a short distance and beyond the outer edge of the alighting board 3, as indicated most clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. The guard is of a height to fit snugly within the opening 6 and is retained in place by the filler block 5 and in turn operates in part to retain the filler block in place.

When the guard is operatively positioned it is arranged with its hollow side facing downwardlyand with the closed end pr jecting some distance beyond the outer edge of the alighting board and with its open end extending a short distance within the hive, as indicated most clearly in Figure 2. As a result of this arrangement snow and sleet accumulating upon the alighting board 3 and guard will not out off the supply of air to the interior of the hive and result in suffocation of the hibernating bees. The space formed by the lower hollow side of the guard admits of air entering the hive at all times and may be utilized as a passage for ingress and egress when the openings at the sides of the guard are closed by snow, ice or other obstruction. After the winter season has passed the guard and the filler block are removed and stowed away for future use.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a bee hive having its bottom extended to provide an. alighting board, and having an ingress and egress opening in the side adjacent the alighting board and adjacent the bottom, of a guard supported upon the alighting board and projecting through the ingress opening at its inner end and beyond the alighting board at its outer end and hollow upon its bottom side 7 to form a passage which opens downwardly supported upon the alighting board and projecting through the ingress opening at its inner end and beyond the alighting board at its outer end and hollow upon its bottom side to form a passage which opens downwardly beyond the outer edge of the alighting board and inwardly beyond the ingress opening of the hive, and a block fitted in the egress opening and serving as securing means for the guard, and having openings at opposite sides of the guard for ingress and egress of the bees.

In testimony whereof I afiEiX my slgnature.

ORISON SMITH. as 

